Multi-Proximity Sensor Input for Precise Touchless UI Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current proximity sensors in computing devices are limited to binary output, restricting their ability to provide nuanced and precise user interfaces, as they can only determine the presence or absence of an object rather than measuring distance or velocity accurately.
Innovation Solution
An application programming interface (API) is developed to allow applications to request and receive distance measurements from multiple proximity sensors, enabling more precise user interactions by utilizing sequences of distance and velocity values, which can be combined with data from other sensors like accelerometers to enhance input sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If proximity sensors are limited to binary output by the operating system or programming interface, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and user interface nuance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (application programming interface) that translates complex sensor data into simplified binary outputs for standard applications, while still allowing advanced applications to access the full precision data when needed. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing both simplified and detailed interfaces through the same system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic changing of output parameters based on application needs. The programming interface can switch between binary output mode (for simplicity) and detailed distance/velocity value mode (for precision), enabling the same hardware to serve both simplified and precise measurement requirements without increasing physical complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple proximity sensors are used to provide nuanced input values, then the user interface precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing proximity sensors perform multiple functions: they serve both as simple presence detectors (binary output) and as precise distance/velocity measurement devices (multi-value output). This multi-functionality allows nuanced user interfaces to be created without adding new sensor types, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing proximity sensor hardware to provide enhanced functionality through software processing. By analyzing sequences of binary presence detections over time, the system self-generates distance and velocity information without requiring additional dedicated distance measurement hardware, thus avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sequences of distance and velocity values are utilized from existing proximity sensors, then the user interface functionality is improved, but the processing complexity and time requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by continuously monitoring and storing sequences of proximity sensor readings in the background. When user interface actions are needed, the pre-processed distance and velocity values are already available, reducing the real-time processing time and allowing versatile user interfaces without significant time loss during actual interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensors continuously provide presence detection data, and the system continuously processes this into distance and velocity information. This continuous action ensures that when users interact with the interface, the data is already prepared and available, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-demand calculations and maintaining both versatility and responsiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
An application programming interface is provided that allows applications to request and receive distance measurements from multiple proximity sensors arranged on a computing device such as a smart phone or tablet. Users can input ranges of values to the applications by moving objects such as hands and fingers towards and away one or more of the multiple proximity sensors. Applications can use the ranges of values provided by the proximity sensors to allow for more nuanced and precise user interfaces than what is typically available using the binary output associated with a capacitive display. The values provided by the proximity sensors can be combined with values from one or more other sensors such as accelerometers to provide additional user interface options.